The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has announced that no fewer than 40,000 Go Cashless cards have been issued since the enforcement of the policy began on March 1, 2026.
FAAN’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, clarified that the newly distributed 40,000 cards are in addition to about 30,000 users who were onboarded during a sensitisation exercise that started in October 2025.
Speaking on Arise TV, Agbebire explained that despite months of public awareness and early registration, many Nigerians waited until the March 1 deadline before attempting to obtain the cards. This last-minute rush, he said, resulted in traffic congestion at the Lagos and Abuja airports.
He noted that the Go Cashless card remains the quickest means of payment at airport access gates. Other accepted payment options include debit cards, E-tags and VIP E-tags, while Point-of-Sale (POS) transactions tend to take longer to process.
Agbebire also apologised for the inconvenience experienced by airport users in the past two days following the full rollout of the policy.
“We sincerely apologise for the distress some passengers and road users encountered. March 1 was a firm deadline, and the sudden surge in demand created pressure on our system. International travellers are advised to arrive at the airport at least three hours before departure. We now recommend adding an extra 30 minutes to one hour to avoid missing flights,” he said.
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